Joao Palhinha

Joao Maria Lobo Alves Palhinha Goncalves (born 9 July 1995) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Sporting CP and the Portugal national team as a defensive midfielder.

Club Career

Born in Lisbon, Palhinha joined local Sporting CP's youth system in 2012, aged 17. He played his first game as a professional with the B team, coming on as a late substitute for fellow youth graduate Iuri Medeiros in a 3−2 home win against Portimonense S.C. for the Segunda Liga, on 3 February 2014; it was one of only two appearances during the season.

Still in the second level, Palhinha scored his first senior goal on 4 April 2015, his header contributing to a 3−1 home victory over Leixoes SC. From July 2015 to January 2017 he was loaned to Primeira Liga clubs Moreirense F.C. and C.F. Os Belenenses, respectively, making his debut in the competition whilst with the former in a 0−2 home loss to F.C. Arouca where he played 22 minutes from the bench, and netting for the first time while at the service of the latter against Vitoria de Guimaraes (1−1 away draw, 90 minutes played).

Subsequently, returned to the Estadio Jose Alvalade, Palhinha made his competitive debut with the first team on 21 January 2017, starting in a 2−2 draw at C.S. Maritimo. He scored his first goals for them on 12 October of the same year, netting twice in a 4–2 away win over ARC Oleiros in the Taca de Portugal.

Palhinha spent the following two seasons on loan to S.C. Braga. He appeared in 76 competitive matches during his spell, helping to a third-place finish in 2019–20 and notably scoring the game's only goal against S.L. Benfica for the club's first win at that opposition in 65 years.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Жуан Пальинья (russian)